Union warns on Ford strike over pensions

Ford plans to follow in the footsteps of most British firms by shutting off its final salary pension scheme to new entrants, a move which Unite says may lead to the possibility of the first strike at the company since the 1970s. Last night (Tuesday, 8 November) union representatives for 2,500 Ford staff walked out of negotiations, believing the move was the 'thin end of the wedge' and would lead to the ultimate closure of the company's staff final salary pension scheme itself. Unite national officer Roger Maddison said: "Our members have made it crystal clear that they fiercely oppose the closure of the final salary scheme to new entrants. They also believe it is the thin end of the wedge and the company wants to ultimately close the entire scheme. We call upon Ford management to restart negotiations with an open mind, rather than demanding changes to long standing agreements that could lead to Ford's first strike since the 1970s."